echoz

This plugin provides functions to retrieve the parent category of any particular post should it be assigned to a sub category of that parent category.
Using this feature, the plugin is also able to modify the WordPress Loop to redirect any category page generation to the parent category. This is especially useful when theme developers want to be able to specify category-x.php templates and have all related posts, be it those assigned to the category or the sub categories use that template for page generation.
So for example the current category structure is as follows.
<ul>
<li>Main Category (has category-x.php template)
<ul>
<li>Sub Category 1</li>
<li>Sub Category 2</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
A post is assigned to “Sub Category 2”.
When the post is requested the plugin will automatically detect if it has a parent category. If so, it will modify the WP variables to set the current category as the parent category and add a new variable stating the actual category of the post. This affects the WordPress Loop to category-x.php template defined for the parent
<h3>Usable Commands for Theme Developers</h3>
The PHP commands for theme developers to use are pretty straight forward.
get_category_child() returns the current post child category ID.
is_parent() checks if the current post is at the parent category.
get_category_title($id) gets the title of the category that is $id.
get_category_parent() returns the current post’s parent category ID.

Elevate Parent Category Template

Elevates parent category template to top of WordPress Loop.

mimo

This plugin adds a widget to your WordPress site called Wp Loop, publish this widget wherever needed and set its options, it creates a WordPress Query Loop that has Grid Layout(Isotope) and can be filtered with ajax(Isotope Filtering), it can display any CPT and has a bunch of design options and loop customizations:
<ul>
<li>-Title: Title of the widget</li>
<li>-Categories to show, use slugs separated by commas: Which categories to include in the loop, they can be custom post types categories</li>
<li>-Categories to hide, use ids separated by commas: The categories to hide, here you need to use id’s</li>
<li>-Filter taxonomyIf you need to filter the loop(ajax filter), write here wchich term you need to filter.</li>
<li>-Offset, number: Write the number for offset in the loop, this means the number of post you need to jump from beginning.</li>
<li>-Number of posts to show: Posts per page</li>
<li>-Image Size to use: This will list all available image sizes in theme, so choose which you prefer</li>
<li>-Post Type to use: This field will list all available post types in theme for you to choose one</li>
<li>-Order: Order of loop</li>
<li>-Order by: Order by</li>
<li>-Columns to use: You can set here until 20 columns</li>
<li>-Title Words, number: How many words to show in title of posts</li>
<li>-Excerpt Words, number: How many words to show in excerpt of posts</li>
<li>-Infinite Scroll: Choose to No, Button or Auto(the infinite scroll triggers when you scroll down the page)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Usage instructions</h3>
Just publish the widget wherever needed. It works great with Site Origin Panels plugin to create full layouts.
<h3>Developer instructions</h3>
Apart from the options inside widget you can manipulate the before/after loop and articles content with this actions:
do_action(‘wploop_before_content’); // The beginnning of content inside each article 
do_action(‘wploop_after_content’); // The end of content inside each article 
do_action(‘wploop_before_loop’); // Out of the loop 
do_action(‘wploop_after_loop’); // Out of the loop
Find plugin and issues solved at http://mimo.studio

Wp Loop

Creates a Widget to display a Masonry, Infinite scroll, filterable loop of posts or whatever custom post type you have. Includes 1-20 columns layout.

Elevate Parent Category Template vs Wp Loop